COMEBACK kings Neil Ditch-field and Danny Eustace claimed the pairs competition crown in the Widnes & District Association after a finals day which thrilled from beginning to end.

The title decider itself was a nerve jangler with Ronnie Shepherd and John Rawlinson in charge throughout the early stages.

This left the champions-in-waiting Ditchfield and Eustace having to play catch up.

But by the 12th end, the game was tied at 11-11.

Then on a simple mark across the green, Shepherd and Rawlinson took a big 16-11 lead with four chalks gained on one end.

Ditchfield and Eustace again started clawing their way back by winning four of the next five ends to be just two chalks in arrears.

At 16-18, Shepherd and Rawlinson won the next end before Ditchfield and Eustace scored a two to make it 18-19.

Then came the match-turning end in which Shepherd and Rawlinson had been lying two and game.

With the final bowl, Eustace gave his pair a 20-19 lead.

The next end was the last - Shepherd and Rawlinson were unable to raise their game again with Ditchfield and Eustace winning 21-19.

The big story from the earlier semi-finals was the potential upset by the rank outsiders Gordon Blackmore and Mike Stott who gave Jimmy Walsh and Alan Briscoe an almighty fright.

The underdogs were leading 18-14 before the Farnworth pair made a big comeback to eventually triumph 21-18.

The semi-finals were two excellent quality games with Ditch-field and Eustace getting the better of Alan Woodward and Graham Parr 21 -12.

The other last-four tie was arguably the game of the day as Shepherd and Rawlinson took on Farnworth ROB team-mates Walsh and Briscoe.

The former pair held an advantage thanks to a big four on the sixth end, but by the 10th, the scores were level 12-12. Then Shepherd and Rawlinson made what looked to be a decisive break with a couple of twos and a three in the next three ends for a 19-12 lead.

Each team scored one on the next two ends and with the score at 20-13 it seemed all over. But Walsh and Briscoe started their fightback and won the next five ends.

The bowling was of an excellent quality and when Walsh and Briscoe levelled at 20-20, it was anyone's game.

Shepherd and Rawlinson were lying one for game with a wood within an inch of the jack and with Walsh and Briscoe having bowled three woods.

Then saw a bizarre incident which may well have had a direct bearing on the outcome.

Walsh had the last wood in his hand when a small bird landed directly on the land to which he was going to bowl and refused to budge.

It is possible the incident affected Jimmy's concentration - when he finally bowled his last wood, he missed by a fair margin, leaving Shepherd and Rawlinson to go on to the final.